The oil tanker MV Braer, carrying 85,000 tonnes of crude oil, ran aground in hurricane-force winds in Quendale Bay, Shetland. While the crew were winched to safety, much of the oil leaked into the sea, the remainder escaping when the ship's hull finally broke up. While considerable environmental impact was caused, the spill was not as damaging as predicted, with the storm driving much of the oil offshore and breaking up slicks. To the surprise of many, within a year, the residual impact was minimal.
